New rent rules in Cuidad Vella.

Apartment owners renting out their property in the Cuidad Vella on a nightly basis are now required to obtain a licence under new rules aimed at reducing overcrowding in the old town. The council has limited the number of licences granted to 906, with no further licences available for another four years. Apartment owners caught flouting the regulations face fines of up to 1,200 and the sealing of their property. Tourist apartment rental agencies are advising their clients to accept a drop in income and let their property for longer periods. Meanwhile the association of tourist apartments of Barcelona has filed an appeal against the new regulations.